Monday, November 28, 2016

Bright, fresh, modern - the surprising new face of Bulgarian wine

It's not the first country Americans think of when it comes to wine, but Bulgaria actually has thousands of years of wine-making history. In fact, the cult of Dionysus originated here - Bulgaria takes its grapes seriously!

Yet this country, located northeast of Greece, is not stuck in ancient times, There's a new spirit of innovation that's leading to modern wines created for today's palate.

At a seminar presented by the World Wine Guys Mike DiSimone and Jeff Jenssen, an audience of beverage media and trade tasted a range of wines made from both international varieties and indigenous Bulgarian grapes. There were some terrific surprises in the lineup.

-Edoardo Miroglio Bio Mavrud and Rubin - This organic wine combines two indigenous grapes. The nose says "Bulgaria" but it's a more approachable rendition than when, in old times, it was said you could carry the wine in your handkerchief it was so dense. This blend had strong flavors of blackberry with black pepper. I compare it to the weight and spice of a good Carmenere.

Clocking in under $20, these Bulgarian wines will expand your vinous world at an affordable price.

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I've been writing about my journeys in the world of wine for seven years now, including trips to major wine regions in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, and the Republic of Georgia. I earned the Advanced Certificate with Distinction from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and teach wine classes and present wine-pairing dinners at the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School in New Jersey. I've spoken internationally on wine tourism at conferences in Croatia, Italy, and Portugal and I was a featured speaker at the Travel Bloggers Exchange Conference in Dublin in 2013. My story, Cabin Pressure, can be found in Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, published by Travelers Tales. I'm currently working on a wine travel memoir.